Suction head for cleaning of the surface of carcass parts

ABSTRACT

A suction head for cleaning of the surface of carcass parts consists of an oblong handle ( 1 ) and a nozzle ( 3 ) mounted at one end of the handle. An air duct ( 6 ) passes through the handle and the nozzle, and it can be connected with a suction device via a coupling ( 5 ) in the other end of the handle. Steam ducts ( 10 ) are designed in the nozzle ( 3 ) to lead hot steam to the surface parts ( 11 ) of the nozzle, which are intended to get into contact with the surface of the carcass parts. These steam ducts ( 10 ) are connected with a supply duct ( 7 ), which is connected with a steam source via a coupling ( 8 ) on the suction head. The supply duct ( 7 ) for steam passes through the handle ( 1 ) from its coupling end to the suction device and to its nozzle end. In the nozzle the duct passes into the steam ducts ( 10 ). It is less fatiguing for an operator to use this suction head than a conventional head with disinfection facility.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This disclosure claims the benefit of International Application No.PCT/DK02/00602, having an international filing date of Sep. 18, 2002,which designated the United States of America, and this disclosure isthe United States national stage of that international application. Thisdisclosure further claims priority to Denmark patent applicationPA-200101400, filed Sep. 26, 2001.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a suction head for cleaningof carcass parts, and, more specifically, to a suction head having anoblong handle and a nozzle mounted on one end of the handle for cleaningthe surface of carcass parts.

2. Description of the Existing Art

In slaughtering of animals and evisceration of carcasses, remnants oftissue are left on the surface of the carcasses. These remnants must beremoved before the carcass is cut. For this purpose use can be made ofequipment with a suction head connected with a suction device. Anoperator moves the nozzle of the suction head along the surface of thecarcass, by which e.g. fat remnants are sucked away from the inside ofthe carcass and carried down into a container in the suction device.

During the suction process the suction head is in contact with largeareas of the carcass, and therefore there is a great risk that anyoccurrence of pathogens will spread on the carcass. There is also a riskthat pathogens will spread to subsequent carcasses, as there is normallyno disinfection of the suction head between the treatments of eachcarcass.

Some known equipment have suction heads that allow a more hygieniccleaning process. In these equipments hot steam is conveyed continuouslyto the nozzle of the suction head, so that this is disinfectedcontinuously. WO 97/15196 (Jarvis Products Corporation) describes suchequipment with steam supply.

EP 0679 335 A1 (Kentmaster) describes other equipments with steamsupply. In one embodiment the steam is supplied through an external tubeon the nozzle and the suction tube, which leads to the nozzle. The tubeis connected to a chamber close to the mouth of the nozzle. The chamberencircles the nozzle and is open in the side closest to the mouth. Agrip tube is mounted on the outside of the suction tube and thecorresponding section of the steam tube. The grip tube protects theoperator against heat from the steam tube section.

The known equipment with steam supply have the drawback that theoperation is fatiguing for the operator. Among other things they can bedifficult to place in indentations and the operator is in danger burninghimself on unprotected steam tube parts.

SUMMARY

The purpose of the invention is to provide an improved suction head withdisinfection facility.

The purpose is achieved in the suction head according to the invention,wherein an air duct passes through the handle and the nozzle and can beconnected with a suction device via a coupling at the other end of thehandle, wherein steam ducts are designed in the nozzle to lead hot steamto the surface parts of the nozzle which are intended to get intocontact with the surface of carcass parts, and these steam ducts areconnected with a supply duct through a connection, which supply duct isconnected with a steam source via a coupling on the suction head, andwherein the supply duct for steam passes through the handle from itscoupling end to the suction device and to its nozzle end.

The suction head according to the invention distinguishes itself in thatit is easy to operate for the operator, since there is no external steamtube to inconvenience the operator or to prevent the nozzle fromaccessing indentations in the surface of the carcass. In addition theoperator does not risk burning himself on any steam tube. The presentdesign of the suction head also allows for making the suction head lightin weight. Therefore, it is much less fatiguing to use the suction headaccording to the invention than the known suction heads.

The connection from the supply duct at the nozzle end of the handle andto the steam ducts may run inside the suction head.

The supply duct can be connected with the handle in mainly its entirelength, so that it lies stationary in the handle.

The supply duct can be integrated with the handle; it can e.g. bedesigned in the material of the handle as a duct running in thematerial. In this way loose tubes with bending and connection problemsare avoided.

The supply duct passes preferably in the nozzle into the steam ducts.The supply duct can e.g. end in an encircling duct in the nozzle, whichserves to connect the supply duct and the steam ducts, and from wherethe steam passes through openings in the side/sides of the encirclingduct to the steam ducts. This enables a simple coupling between thesupply duct and the steam ducts with a distribution of the steam to allof the steam ducts.

The supply duct can be branched at the nozzle, and the branches cansupply different steam ducts. In this way a more homogeneousdistribution of the steam to the steam ducts can be achieved.

The end section of the handle at the nozzle and the supply duct in thiscan describe a curve away from the longitudinal axis of the handle,preferably an approximate quarter curve. In this way the nozzle can beplaced with the opening of the nozzle parallel with the longitudinaldirection of the handle without the occurrence of sharp bends in thesupply duct, which might spoil the distribution of steam.

The handle can be made of a plastic material and the nozzle of metal. Itis advantageous that the handle is made of plastic, because this willprovide a certain insulation against the heat from the supply duct andit can be shaped into the desired piece by moulding or the like. It isan advantage that the nozzle is made of metal, such as stainless steel,because the heat from the steam then can spread out over a larger areathat is kept at a disinfecting temperature.

The handle with supply duct can be made in one piece, e. g. by “plasticlaser-sintering” or molding/pressing.

The suction head according to the invention can be used to removeremnants of fat, (half) loose remnants of tissue and other material fromthe surface of pig carcasses, in particular from the inside of half pigcarcasses. It can also be used on carcasses of other animals, e.g.cattle.

The invention is explained in further detail in the following withreference to the drawing, in which

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 shows a suction head consisting of a handle and a nozzle, seenfrom the side,

FIG. 2 shows the head of FIG. 1 seen from another side at right anglesto the first side, and

FIG. 3 shows a longitudinal section through the handle of the head ofFIGS. 1 and 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The suction head comprises a handle 1, one end of which continues into acurved part 2, on which a nozzle 3 is mounted by means of screws. In theopposite end the handle 1 continues into a connecting part 4, whichcontains a coupling piece 5 for connection of a hose from a suctiondevice, which sucks air into and through the air duct 6 designed in thenozzle and the handle. The coupling piece is provided with an insidethread, so that the end of the hose can be firmly screwed into thecoupling piece, which fits tightly into the connecting part 4 of thehandle.

Inside the handle is a supply duct 7 for steam. The duct is designed inone piece with the handle and it has a pipe stub 8, so that the duct canbe connected with a steam source by putting a hose on the pipe stub. Theduct 7 follows the curved part 2 of the handle, and at the end it isbranched into two ducts which flow into two openings 9, which arelocated opposite the open side of an encircling groove in the nozzle,which fits tightly against a flat mounting surface on the end of thecurved part of the handle. Thus, the groove together with the mountingsurface of the handle forms a duct 9 a. This encircling duct distributesthe steam to steam ducts 10, which passes from the duct to the surfaceof the part 11 of the nozzle which is intended to get into contact withthe surface of a carcass part which is to be cleaned. The steam ductsare distributed around the contact part 11, both on the inside and theoutside, and they go mainly parallel with its side surfaces, which inoperation are swept homogeneously with steam of a high temperature, sothat the surfaces are continuously being disinfected.

The way for an operator to use the suction head is to grasp the handle 1and lead the contact part 11 along and in contact with the surface ofthe carcass, which is to be cleaned.

Loose parts on the surface of the carcass part, like remnants of leaffat, are sucked into the nozzle 3, through the handle 1 and the hose,which is fastened in the coupling piece 5, to an accumulation containerin the suction device.

It is less fatiguing for an operator to use this suction head than theknown suction heads with disinfection facility, among other thingsbecause it is very light and because there is no interfering outsidesteam connection and steam tube, so it is generally more simple tooperate and it is easier for the nozzle to access the indentations inthe surface of the carcass part. Furthermore, there is no risk that theoperator will burn himself because the duct for steam supply is locatedinside the handle, which is kept cooled by the air that is being suckedthrough it.

The handle with supply duct is made in one piece by “plastic lasersintering”, where the piece is built up layer by layer in thelongitudinal direction of the handle by sintering of plastic grains. Thenozzle is made of stainless steel by milling.

1. Suction head for cleaning of the surface of carcass parts, whichsuction head comprises an oblong handle (1) and a nozzle (3) mounted onone end of the handle, wherein an air duct (6) passes through the handleand the nozzle and can be connected with a suction device via a coupling(5) in another end of the handle, wherein steam ducts (10) are designedin the nozzle (3) to lead hot steam to the surface parts (11) of thenozzle adapted to contact the surface of carcass parts, and said steamducts (10) being connected with a supply duct (7) through a connection(9 a), wherein the supply duct (7) for steam passes though the handle(1) from a coupling end to the nozzle.
 2. Suction head according toclaim 1, wherein the connection (9 a) from the supply duct (7) at thenozzle end of the handle (1) and to the steam ducts (10) runs inside thesuction head.
 3. Suction head according to claim 1, wherein the supplyduct (7) is connected with the handle (1) over substantially its entirelength.
 4. Suction head according to claim 1, wherein the supply duct(7) is integrated with the handle.
 5. Suction head according to claim 1,wherein the supply duct (7) ends in an encircling duct in the nozzle(3), connecting the supply duct and the steam ducts, and from where thesteam passes through the openings in the side/sides of the encirclingduct to the steam duets (10).
 6. Suction head according to claim 1,wherein the supply duct (7) is branched at the nozzle (3), and whereinthe branches supply different steam ducts (10).
 7. Suction headaccording to claim 1, wherein the end section (2) of the handle at thenozzle and the supply duct (7) describe a curve away from thelongitudinal axis of the handle.
 8. Suction head assembly according toclaim 7, wherein the curve is an approximate quarter curve.
 9. Suctionhead according to claim 1, wherein the handle (1) is made of a plasticmaterial and the nozzle (3) is made of metal.
 10. Suction head accordingto claim 1, wherein the handle with supply duct is made in one piece.11. Suction head according to claim 10, wherein the handle is made byplastic laser sintering.